CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The province’s social development minister says $100,000 in funding for the Island’s sole women’s shelter is on hold pending the completion of a needs assessment.
However, Ernie Hudson told the legislature during estimates that an additional $60,300 has been allocated to the Blooming House shelter in the 2019-2020 budget pending the completion of the assessment.
“The money is extended to Blooming House until such time as that community needs assessment is completed and in advance of our department having an opportunity to review that,” Hudson told the legislature.
The Blooming House shelter opened its doors in January after receiving seed funding of $60,000 from the province. The shelter provides temporary lodging for up to eight women each night.
Four full-time staff and a shelter coordinator have been hired to maintain this service.
"I am really upset about this because I don't understand why we continually have to sit here and actually demonstrate that there is a need for women in P.E.I. in Charlottetown to have somewhere safe to sleep at night."
-Hannah Bell
However, the requirement of having a needs assessment did not sit well with Green MLA Hannah Bell. She contrasted the temporary funding that has been offered in the current budget for the women’s shelter with the $343,200 allocated for Bedford MacDonald House, a men’s shelter.
"It's really concerning that this situation is not being taken seriously,” Bell told Hudson.
“You've got a community group who've come forward on their own effort and have created their own non-profit organizations and fundraised thousands of dollars to make this happen."
Bell noted Bedford MacDonald was a worthy organization, but said similar committed government support should be extended to the women’s shelter.
"I am really upset about this because I don't understand why we continually have to sit here and actually demonstrate that there is a need for women in P.E.I. in Charlottetown to have somewhere safe to sleep at night," Bell said.
"I would strongly recommend, minister, the needs assessment be damned. You do not need to assess the need for this. There has been a need forever."
The admission from Hudson is the first definitive confirmation that Blooming House would likely be the recipient of the $100,000 allocated in core funding for a women’s shelter in the Progressive Conservative budget.
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